Why do bone metastases occur? Almost all cancers eventually invade the bones and develop what is called bone metastasis. The primary malignancies most likely to metastasize to the bones include: lung cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and thyroid cancer. There are also many other malignant tumors that can metastasize to the bones, such as melanoma, liver cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and uterine cancer. In other words, anyone with a history of tumor should be alert to bone metastasis. Usually, the common sites of bone metastasis are: thoracic spine, lumbar spine, pelvis, ribs and femur in order. Most of them are osteolytic lesions and a few are osteogenic changes. 75% of bone metastases come from the above mentioned sites. Among female cancer patients, breast cancer is most likely to develop bone metastasis, and it may occur more than 10 years or even longer after breast cancer treatment. Among men, lung cancer and prostate cancer are at the top of the list. What are the main symptoms of bone metastasis? If the cancer metastasizes to the bone, it causes bone destruction and when the destruction reaches a certain level, bone pain will follow. If the outer layer of the hard bone cortex is destroyed, the bone structure can become extremely unstable. Bone metastases that occur in the ribs may be uncomfortable, but those that occur in long, heavily loaded bones, such as the femur or humerus, are more likely to fracture during daily activities. How can I find out if I have a bone metastasis? In the early stage of bone metastasis, there may be no signs and symptoms. In the late stage of bone metastasis, when the cancer cells destroy bone tissue in a large area, invade the periosteum or form pathological fracture, it can produce severe pain. The pain caused by bone metastasis is called bone metastasis pain. Bone metastasis pain is often “stabbing”, making it difficult for people to stand still. The most common location of metastatic pain is the spine, followed by the ribs, pelvic bones, and then the limbs. The pain of bone metastasis is often characterized by fixed location, severe pain and progressive aggravation. In the case of long bone metastasis, pathological fractures may be formed; in the case of spinal metastasis, the cancer may protrude into the medullary cavity or form pathological compression fractures, both of which eventually compress the spinal cord and cause paraplegia. What should patients do when bone metastasis occurs? Bone metastasis in cancer patients is an advanced manifestation of malignant tumor, but does it mean that life is at the end? But does it mean the end of life? “Absolutely not.” Whether a patient with bone metastasis can survive for a long time is actually related to the characteristics of the primary tumor. Bone metastasis from cancer is not untreatable, especially in the long bones of the limbs. In order to prevent the occurrence of pathological fractures, a positive attitude should be adopted, and most patients can reduce pain, prevent the occurrence of fractures and improve the quality of life through comprehensive treatments such as surgery. Even if a pathologic fracture occurs, depending on the patient’s physical condition, some patients can still be treated surgically. Traditionally, the treatment of bone metastasis pain has been based on medical drugs, including general pain medications, chemical drugs, and morphine-based drugs. As the pain of bone metastases progresses, the dose and frequency of medication use increases, as do the side effects of morphine drugs, including drowsiness, mood changes, and constipation.